Comestible sorting apparatus



Dec. ll, 1956 H. w. BARTLETT coMEsTIBLE soRTING APPARATUS 2 Sheefs-Sheet l Filed June 23, 1951 INVENTOR. #c2/2040 0. 549/2577 BY v ' v #fraai/6W5 4am m2.

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Dec. 11, 1956 H, w. BARTLETT COMESTIBLE SORTING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1951 INVENToR.

,sw/@m0 a @f7/970977 United States Patent COMESTIBLE SOR'IING APPARA'IVU Harold W. Bartlett, Berkeley,y Califg, assignpr to Cali-l fornia Packing Corporation,y San4 Francisco, Calif., a

corporation of New York Application June 23, 1951, Serial No. 233,232 12-l Claims. (Cl. 2419-4111).k

2,773,596 Patented Dec.l 1l, 1956 ICC it passesan appreciable distance beyond the scanning head1., e Another object ofthe present invention is to provide an, improved time delay or memory apparatus ofl this character particularly applicable to conveyor systems in s which articles travel along a conveyor belt to subject such the peach halves are carried rst under a photoelectric scanning head for deriving intelligence as to thev degree of ripeness,y i. e., color shading, and subsequently suchpeach halves are moved away from the scanning. headto a diiferent area from where they are removed from the endless belt intol one of a pluralityof chutes,4 depending upon the information obtained as to that particular peach half While under the scanning head. Of necessityLsu/ch apparatus must incorporate some time delay or memory apparatus, so that the intelligence -derived while therpeach half is under the scanning head may be utilized at a sub sequent later time, i. e., a time required for the peach half to move from the scanning head to the position adjacent the chute into which it is ejected from the belt upon which the peach half travels.

The aforementioned patent application incorporates such time delay or memory apparatus in the formvk of releasable buttons which travel a distance corresponding to the desired time delay. While suchv apparatus is satisf factory for relatively slow sorting or grading, the present application concerns itself particularly with they proarticles to control. at predictable spaced points beyond` a predetermilnedl point at which intelligence is derived.

Another object ofthe present invention is tor Aprovide an improved control; circuit for energizing a time delay or memoryircuit-of'this character.v Y I" The yfeatures ofY 'thefpresent' invention which are'believed to be novelY are set forth with particularity inthe appended claims.' This invention itself,A both as tok its organization anglV manner of operation, together with furthr'objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by Vreferenceto the following description takenin'connetion with the accompanyingdrawings in vyhiti:l

' Figure lf's'hws a comestiblevsortirig system embodying features ofthe present invention;

Figgre 2`is ay View inend elevation of a portion ofthe' apparatus which is shown in schematic form in Figure l;

the line'f3 -3-in Fignre l2;

Figure4 is a view talgen in the direction indicated by melma-Mangue a The comestibles or' fruit shown in the form of halved peaches P are fed'onto the travelinlgdendlelssbelt IQ, Preferably comprises, a Pair Qtned V-lslfs" 'sfshw'n' in the afc3r'e'merti'oned,A patent application, and whichare maenner mais. Theismann on 'other f v 4 10 passi under a vscanning headwhichincorporates the,

vision of improved time delay or memoryf apparatus of this character which allows more speedy and reliable operation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved time delay or memory apparatusof l this character embodied in comestible sorting apparatus of this type. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved time delay or memory apparatus which uti? lizes a movable magnetizable member, such member beran improved color sorting arrangement in which articles l to be sorted are moved past a scanning-head -to derive therefrom intelligence as to their yphysical character, Aa characterizing feature of the invention being that a novel magnetic `type of time delay mechanism` is provided where,- by j, such intelligence is used to deflect such article after light were? 40 all@ themas-Cirie Cells. fiend-2l! after which Sach comestibles" are 'sspse the rceptacle 12 in, the event that. the irait. iS lcemrltly'irerfred. 111th@ @Vent th'ffiafmit ViS not Camplstfrfirsd! it is fe? mpyed tram the traveling belt llto "the faptasls 12A; 1121.3. C; 12D by the @appending eet'nsimfcchasm 1.5, la, 1.5, t6, deseadas menthe .degres .f'rple'ness- The 'particular fsm Qf destins mshliism .13. '14, 15, 16,' P a @nasse par? 9i the Preis@ invaliden, aad may use s016139@ ,aat-ated kkef's. Whh .actally'ensage the 'Peach halves, as shea/,14 in my forsmehtipnedbe- Pending applicaties, @mi may. sentirs? plurality of air iets. These niechaasms'lg, 14,' @11.116 are actuated in assediata@ Wtheaersizatifm Qt the. ,csrrspfvsi' .ills 13A, 14A, 15A and 16A, and the connecting mec ms/ms between. the 9931s and @testing mehanism arev inditd in SC ..rnat'c ferm by` the dotted lines. 13B, 14B. 15B(r and 16B. i i

These sails 15A, 14A, 15A aad .16A are. energized in accordance with intelligence obtained by use ofthe pirotgus zo amici.- The photoceus 2,0 and 21ste connected@ e bridge circuit andere ,Connected to pirelue a ,differential effect on the ,CQnIrol Agrid of thesocalled yelectronieter tube 2,4. They ampliedoutput current variations of tube 24 are applied to the Control grid of discharge device 25 which is connected as, a cathode follower.. Depending, upon the voltage dropv in thev vcathode returnciruit of'device 25', .011e or morev of in@ rai/raden, type er mees ze, r21, 2,8; 29 is timid, te thereby energizea. @responding One'of the-relays' haying'the actuation v,windings l3,0, 3.1,',32 and 33, respectively. Thefunction of these relays generally is to initiate the tiring of a ycorresponding one o f the thyratronltubes 34, 35,36 and 37. Theanode circuits of 4the tubes 3,4, 35, 36 and 37 include, respectively, the coils 50, 51; 52 ,5.3. These coils 50, 51, 5 2 and 53 form an important .part of the novel time delay or memory apparatus, an important part of which is shown in greater detail in Figf uresf2, 53 and' 4.

Preferably, this apparatus incorporates two rotating magnetizable discs 54, 55 -of paramagnetic material driven synchronously with movement of the endless belt 10. For that purpose, the belt pulley shaft 56 is mechanically coupled to the disc shaft 57 by mechanical connections indicated by the dotted line 58 in Figure 1. The coils 52, 53, when energized, are energized only for a brief period of time and produce a magnetized spot on the corresponding discs 54, 55. These magnetized spots, when moved adjacent corresponding pickup coils 50A, 51A, 52Aand 53A, induce a corresponding voltage in the grid circuit associated respectively with tubes 50B, 51B, 52B, 53B to re the corresponding tube and produce a resulting energization of windings 13A, 14A, 15A and 16A,` respectively, for the aforementioned purpose of actuating the mechanisms 13, 14, and 16, respectively, to remove the peach half into the corresponding receptacle 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D.

A detailed description of the circuitry shown in Figure l now follows. A

The anode of phototube 21 is connected to the cathode of phototube 20, and their junction point is connected to the Acontrol grid of tube 24 and to one terminal' of the grid resistance 60. The cathode of tube 24 is connected to the tap 61 on the voltage dividing resistance 62, and the other terminal of resistance 60 is connected through the movable tap on potentiometer resistance 64 to the negative terminal of resistance 62. One outside terminal of resistance 64 is grounded. The cathode of tube 24 is bypassed to ground by means of condenser 65, and a similar condenser 66 serves to bypass one terminal of resistance 60 to ground.

Voltage is supplied to the voltage dividing resistance 62 by means of a conventional full-Wave rectier having the general reference numeral 67 which is considered to be a source of direct current. The anode of tube 24 is connected to the control grid of the cathode follower tube 25 and is also connected through resistance 68 to the tap 69 on resistance 62 for the ow of space current through tube 24. The screen grid of tube 24 is connected to ground through resistance 70. The anode and screen grid of tube 25 are both connected to the adjustable tap 71 on resistance 62 and to one terminal of the voltage regulator tube 73, which has its other terminal grounded. In such case, a substantially constant voltage is maintained on the anode of tube 25. Phototube has its anode grounded and the cathode of phototube 21 is connected to the negative terminal of resistance 62, such terminal being likewise connected to one terminal of the voltage regulator tube 74, which has its other terminal grounded.

Tube has its cathode returned to ground through the output load resistance 75, and voltages developed across such resistance 75 are transferred, on the one hand, through resistance 76 to the control grid of the thyratron tube 77 and, on the other hand, through lead 78 to the so-called color adjustment circuit 79. Specifically, lead 78 is connected to one terminal of the parallel potentiometer resistances 80 and 81. The adjustable tap 80A on resistance 80 is connected through resistance 84' to the control grid of the thyratron tube 26, and the adjustable tap 81A on resistance 81 is connected through resistance 85 to the control grid of thyratron tube 27.

The parallel connected resistances 80, 81 are serially con nected with the second pair of parallel connected re sistances 86, 87 and with the resistance 88 to ground. In other words, it is clear that the voltage drop across the cathode output resistance 75 is applied to a series circuit which includes rst the parallel connected resistances 80,81, second the parallel connected resistances 86, 87, and third the resistance 88.

Eractional parts of such voltage appearing on the taps 80A, 81A, 86A and 87A may then be applied respectively to the control grids of .tubes 26, 27 28 and 29. It is noted that the tap 86A is connected through resistance 90 to the control grid of thyratron tube 28, and that the tap 87A is connected through resistance 91 to the control grid of thyratron tube 29. Tube 26 has its screen grid connected through resistance 92 to the tap 96 on voltage dividing resistance 62, and the screen grids of tubes 27, 28 and 29 are connected respectively through resistances 93, 94 and 95 to the tap 97 on resistance 62.

The anodes of tubes 26, 27, 28 and 29 are connected respectively to one terminal of relay windings 30, 31, 32 and 33. These relay windings control the operation of single pole double throw switches which, in normal relatively deenergzed position, are as shown in Figure l, wherein the movable arms of such relays interconnect the bottom relay contacts in a series circuit. The movable arms of the relay switches are connected to one terminal of the corresponding relay windings 30, 31, 32 and 33.

The movable switch arm associated with the winding 33 is connected to a source of positive potential derived in the half-wave rectier circuit 100, which includes the tube 102. It is observed that the center tap of the high voltage secondary winding 104 is grounded, and that the cathode of rectifier tube 102 is connected to one terminal of the potentiometer resistance 105, which has its other terminalreturned to ground through the voltage regulating tube 106. The junction point of resistance 105 and tube 106 is connected to one terminal cf coil 33 by means` of 'lead 107. Such lead 107 is of positive potential and is connected through the normally closed contacts of relay switch 33A to the relay coil 32, and likewise through the normally closed contacts of relay switch 32A to the relay winding 31, and likewise through the normally closed contacts of relay switch 31A to the relay winding 30. Thus, normally each of the relay windings 30, 31, 32 and 33 is connected to the positive lead 107, thus conditioning the corresponding tubes 26, 27, 28 and 29 for tiring when a voltage of suitable intensity is applied to their corresponding control grids.

It is observed that the relay switches 30A, 31A, 32A and 33A serve also to control the tiring of corresponding thyratron tubes 34, 35, 36 and 37 by applying voltage to their corresponding grids. The cathodes of each of the tubes 34, 35, 36 and 37 are grounded. The anodes of tubes 34, 35, 36 and 37 are connected respectively through magnetizing coils 50, 51, 52 and 53 to the lead 108 of positive potential, such lead 108 being connected to one terminal of the condenser 109 and to the adjustable tap on resistance 105, the other terminal of condenser 109 being connected to the negative terminal of voltage regulator tube 106. The screen grids of tubes 34, 35, 36 and 37 are each connected through a corre-V sponding voltage dropping resistance and through lead 113 through the common decoupling and voltage dropping resistance 110 to a tap on the voltage dividing resistance 62. The control grids of tubes 34, 35, 36 and 37 are each connected through corresponding grid resistances to the lead 111, which in turn is connected to the adjustable tap 112 on the voltage dividing resistance 62. Also, the control grid of tube 34 is connected through resistance 34A to the upper terminal of switch 30A; the control grid of tube 35 is connected through resistance 35A to the upper terminal of relay switch 31A; the control grid of tube 36 is connected through resistance 36A to the upper terminal of relay switch 32A; and the control grid of tube 37 is connected through resistance 37A to the upper terminal of relay switch 33A. The control thyratron tube 77 has its cathode grounded, its screen grid connected through resistance 77A to the :,tap. 96, and its anode connected through the control re- ,laytfivinding 77B to one terminal of the secondary wind- .ing. 104, `so that the anode of tube 77 is supplied with Relay Winding 77B controls the .sistance ,114.

'The ,operation of the circuit described above inid'eta'ill' The thyratron tubes 26, 27,28

is generally as follows. and 2 9 are normally in condition for ring, since direct eff-vence utlrent. is. applied to their anodes through switches 30A, 31A, 32A, 33A, respectively. Thus, when', anyl oneof these. tubes fires. it will continue to conduct` Vuntil its. corresponding anodey voltage is reduced to 11 volts or lower. The control thyratron 77 has alternating ycurrent applied to itsv anode, and hence. conductsA only when the voltage applied to its grid exceeds a perdetermined positive threshold value. The thyratrons used are of` the: shield or screen grid type. By making the shield or screen grid more negative, a higher positive potential is required on the corresponding control grid tore the tube.

As explained previously, when a green peach half P is being viewed with. light. from light source 40, the bias on tube 25 isy reduced, causing it to conduct, it being noted that normally in the absence of a peach half the tubel 25 is biased. in a non-conducting condition due to the biasing lamp 4t). This causes a positive voltage with respect to ground to be developed on the cathode of tube. 25. Since. the control grid of tube 77 isfconnected to the cathode of tube 25, the tube 77 fires whena relatively smalll positive voltage appears yon its control grid (assuming that the positivel half of the alternating current voltage wave is present on the anode of tube 77). When tube 77 fires, relay winding 77B is energized, thereby disconnecting one terminal of resistance 114.from ground and imposing a relatively high negative potential on the screen or shield grids of tubes 34, 35, 36 and 37 through resistance 110, thereby placing; such tubes 34, 35, 36 and 37 in a non-tiring condition. The control grids of tubes 26, 27, 28 and 29 are biased differently so that they re at different values of voltagel appearing on the cathode load resistance 75. When the voltage on the cathode of tube 25 is progressively raised, the tube 77 is rst conditioned to fire, then the. tubes 26 2-7, 2S and 29y in succession, and in that order, are conditioned for firing. It is observed that when tubes 26, 27, 28 and 29 are tired, the corresponding relay windings 30, 31, 32 and 33 are energized, thereby disconnecting rthe voltage supply to others. Thus,-when the voltage on the cathode of tube 25 is suliicient to condition tube 28 for tiring, the anode voltage supplied. to tubes 2:6y

and 27 is disconnected and only tubev 28 .under such condition is tired, it being assumed that the voltageon the cathode of tube 25 is insufcient lat this time .to cause tube 29 to lire.

It is observed that the tubes 34, 3.9, 36, 37 have a very high negative bias on their shield grids, and a heavy negative bias on their control grids when the tube 77 is being red, i. e., when relay winding 77B is energized. Thus, when tubes 77 and 26 lire, the tube 34 does not conduct, even though there is a positive voltage applied to the grid of tube 34 through the normally open contact of relay switch 30A. However, as soon as the peach halfleaves the scanning head the biasing larnp 40 causes the tube 25 to become non-conducting andthe voltage in the cathode of tube 25 becomes zero, and the control tube 77 is cut oi. This allows relay winding 77B to become deenergized and allowing closure of switch 77C. This causes the voltage on the screen grid of tube 34 to increase, so that the tube may be tired in response to the positive voltage applied to its control grid through resistance 34A. It should be noted that at this stage the tube 77 is rendered non-conductive because of the alternating voltage applied to the anode of tube 77, while tube 2,6 remains conducting since a continuous potential is being applied to its anode and of course at this stage tube 34 is conditioned for tiring.

It should be carefully noted that the precharged condenser 109 is used to re the tube 34, and once the tube 34 is thus fired, the condenser 169 discharges to decrease the potential on lead S a suicient amount to prevent firing. After condenser 109 is thus discharged in accordance with tiring of tube 34, the voltage o n leadp107 is reduced sufficiently to cause tube 276 to ceasefiring, especiallysince at this time, when the peach half has left the 6 scanning head, the voltage on the control grid of tube 26 is relatively highly negative in nature. Then, Vas ysoon vas tube 26 ceases to conduct, i. e., ceasesring, its associated relay winding 30'is deenergized, thus in turn allowing the bias on tube 34 to .become highly negative to an extent that it will not conduct until the next cycle.

From the foregoing description l-of the operation, itis evident that short pulses of energy are supplied to the magnetizing coils 50, 51, 52 and 53, depending upon the relative magnitude of the voltage developed on the cathode of tube 25, i. e., in accordance with the degree of ripeness of peach -half P. Such short pulses of energy are used to produce magnetized spots on hardened steel discs 54, 55 (Figures 1 and 2) runningin synchronism with the endless belt 10 upon which the peach halves are transported. Assuming as before that the pulse of energy is delivered to the coil 50, a magnetized spotappears on the disc 54. Then, when the disc travels in its orbital path adjacent the corresponding pickup coil 50A of relatively large number of turns, a .corresponding voltage is induced in the coil 50A, and such voltage is applied to the control grid of the thyratron tube53B to re the same. Similarly, the coil 51A is connected tothe control grid of tube 52B, the pickup coil 52A is connected to the control grid of tube 51B, and the pickup coil 53A is connected to the control grid of tube 50B. The control grids of these tubes ,are normally biased negatively by small direct current voltage sources, and the anode of each is supplied with alternating current from the alternating current source 120, which has one of its terminals connected to the cathodes of tubes 50B, 51B, 52B and 53B and theother lone of its terminals connected to the corresponding anodes through solenoid or relay windings 13A, 14A, 15A, 16A. Energization of any one of these windings 13A, 14A, 15A, 16A results in operation of the corresponding peach half ejecting mechanism 13, 14, 15, 16, which mechanism operates to deflect or move the peach halves laterally from the belt 10 into corresponding re- .ceptacles 12A, 12B12C and 12D, all in accordance with the degree of ripeness of the peach halves.

Referring to the specific structures shown in Figures 2, 3v and 4, the coils 50 and 51 are mounted ontstationary bracket members 121, 122, respectively, on the stationary support 12. The coils 50 and 51 comprise a plurality of wire turns around one of the legs of corresponding yokes 125, 126, the other legs of such yokes 125, 126 being disposed adjacent the magnetizable discs 131, 132, respectively, between which the disc 54 is sandwiched.

It is observed that the magnetic axes of the coils 50, 51 are disposed at different radial distances from `the center of rotation of disc 54, i. e., the axis of shaft 54 upon which the disc 54 is mounted, so that the magnetized spots produced by the coils 50 and 51 extend a greater and a shorter distance, respectively, from the rotational axis ofy the disc. The pickup coil 50A is spaced circumferentially from the corresponding magnetizing coilv 50, but at the same radial distance from the axis of rotation, whereby the spot magnetized by the coil 50 passes ,adjacent the magnetic axis of the coil 50A. Similarly, the spot of magnetized material produced by coil 51 passes immediately adjacent the magnetic axis of the pickup coil 51A. It is observed that the yokes for each correspondingmagnetizing and pickup coil are essentially the same and serve to establish a magnetic path which passes through s uch yokes, the disc 54, as well as the magnetizable discs 1-31, 132.

Preferably, the pickup coils 56A and 51A are adjustable along the circumference of the disc 54 to correspond exactly with the distance between, on the one hand, the scanning head where intelligence is derivedfby means of the photocells 20, 21 and, on the other hand, the ejecting mechanisms 13, 14, 15, 16, as the case may be. For this purpose,v the rotatable disc shaft 57 `tioatingly supports the collars `135, 136, each of which mounts a worm gear 137, 138, cooperating respectively with the manually operable worm 139, 140. A suitable collar 141 may be mounted directly to the shaft 57 to prevent movement of the collars or sleeves 135, 136 along the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The worm gear 140, as shown in Figure 3, may have its shaft 142 journaled for rotation on the stationary frame member 143 which carries indicia 144 readable in relationship to the position of the pointer 145 mounted on the shaft 142, to allow the operator to determine visually the relative position of the pickup coil 51A. Similar adjusting and indicating means are provided as shown in Figure 2 for the other pickup coil 50A.

The disc 54 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 147 in Figure 3 for movement adjacent the stationary Alnico magnet 150 (Figures 3 and 4), such magnet 150 being provided for erasing purposes. In other words, the magnetized spots produced by the coils 50, 51, after producing their effects in the pickup coils 50A, 51A, are moved adjacent the legs of the Alnico magnet 150 which serves to erase such spots.

It is observed that the Alnico magnet 150 has a north pole and a south pole, as indicated by the letters N and S in Figure 4, and such poles are spaced a distance corresponding to the radial spacing between the magnetic axes of the coils 50 and 51. It is noted that the coils 50, 51 are polarized differently so that the north and south poles of the magnet 150 are effective to provide erasure. It should be observed that the pickup coils 50A and 51A also have different polarities and are sensitive to eithera north or a south polarity, as the case may be. By this expedient cross-talk effects between the two diiferent magnetized spots produced by the coils 50 and 51 are avoided. In other words, unless the voltage devel'- oped in the pickup coils 50A and 51A produces a positive voltage on the grids of corresponding tubes 50B, 51B, the corresponding windings 13A, 14A are not energized.

While the particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, means effective to derive a control voltage varying in magnitude in accordance with the color of comestibles, a rotatable magnetizable disc, a plurality of magnetizing windings magnetically associated with said disc, a corresponding plurality of pickup coils magnetically associated with said disc, means selectively energizing only one of said plurality of magnetizing windings in accordance with the particular magnitude of said voltage, and means including said pickup coils for effecting control operations on said comestibles.

2. In apparatus of the character described, conveying means, a magnetizable disc operated synchronously with said conveying means, rst means deriving a voltage in accordance With physical characteristics of nonmagnetizable articles on said conveying means, a plurality of magnetizing windings magnetically associated with said disc, a plurality of corresponding pickup coils magnetically associated with said disc, means deriving and applying energy pulses to corresponding selected ones only of said plurality of magnetizing windings in accordance with particular said voltage derived by said first means, and means including said plurality -of pickup coils for eifecting control operations on said articles.

3. In apparatus of the character described, conveying means, a magnetizable member operated synchronously with said conveying means, rst means deriving a voltage in accordance with physical characteristics of nommagnetizable articles on said conveying means, a plurality of magnetizing windings magnetically associated with said member, a plurality of corresponding pickup means magnetically associated with said member, means deriving and applying energy pulses to a selected corresponding one onlyof said plurality lof magnetizing windings in accordance with said voltage derived by said first means, and means including said plurality of pickup means for effecting control operations on said articles.

4. In an arrangement of the character described, article conveying means, means at a point of selection for deriving intelligence as to the physical characteristics of nonrnagnetizable articles on said conveying means, said intelligence deriving means including means for deriving a voltage, the magnitude of which is representative of the physical characteristics of said articles, a magnetizable member synchronously operated with said conveying means, a plurality of magnetizing means magnetically associated with said magnetizable member, means selectively coupling a corresponding one only of said plurality of means to said voltage deriving means in accordance with the particular magnitude of said voltage, said coupling means incorporating means whereby only one of said plurality of means is energized at a particular time, a corresponding plurality of pickup means magnetically associated with said magnetizable member, and control means coupled to said pickup means for eiecting control operations on said articles remote from said point of selection.

5. In an arrangement of the character described, article conveying means, means at a point of selection for deriving a voltage varying in intensity in accordance with physical characteristics of nonmagnetizable articles on said conveying means, a magnetizable member synchronously operated with said conveying means, a plurality of magnetizing means magnetically associated with said magnetizable member to magnetize regions in the same, selectively and automatically operative means response to the particular intensity of said voltage for energizing a corresponding one only of said magnetizing means, and control means operated in accordance with magnetization of said magnetizable member for effecting control operations on said articles remote from said point of selection.

6. In an arrangement of the character described, ar ticle conveying means, means at a point of selection for deriving a voltage varying in intensity in accordance with physical characteristics of nonmagnetizable articles on lsaid conveying means, a magnetizable member synchronously operated With said conveying means, a plurality of magnetizing means magnetically associated with said magnetizable member to magnetize the same, selectively and automatically operative means responsive 'to the particular intensity of said voltage for energizing a corresponding one of said magnetizing means, and control means operated in accordance with magnetization of said magnetizable member for effecting control operations on said articles, said control means comprising a plurality of pickup coils magnetically associated with said magnetizable member and each corresponding to one of said magnetizing means.

7. In an arrangement of the character described, photo responsive means for developing a voltage varying in accordance with physical characteristics of articles, a rst gaseous control tube coupled to said photo responsive means and operated in accordance with said voltage, said gaseous control tube having an anode, a iirst control relay with a winding, an alternating current voltage source connected to said anode through said iirst control relay winding, a second gaseous tube coupled to said photo responsive means vand operated in accordance with said voltage, a continuous voltage source, a second control relay with a winding, a resistance, means connecting said continuous voltage source to the anode of said second tube through said second control relay winding and said resistance to provide a discharge path for said second tube, a third gaseous tube having an anode, a magnetizing coil, a condenser, means coupling said condenser to said con tinuous vvoltage source through said resistance, said condenser being serially connected with said coil to the anode of said third tube, means including said first control relay for rendering said third tube inoperative, means including said second control relay for rendering said third tube operative to discharge said condenser through said coil, and means including said resistance for rendering said second tube inoperative in accordance with discharging of said condenser.

8. In an arrangement of the character described, photo responsive means for developing a voltage which varies in accordance with physica-l characteristics of a nonmagnetizable article, a plurality o-f magnetizing means, a plurality of gaseous discharge tubes', each having its anode serially connected with a corresponding one of said magnet-izing means, a single condenser serially connected with each of said magnetizing means and corresponding anodes and corresponding tube cathodes, a continuous voltage source, a resistance serially connected with said source, a charging circuit for said condenser comprising said resistance and said source, a second plurality of discharge tubes each eifective to energize a corresponding one of said rst plurality of tubes in accordance with the magnitude ci said voltage, each of said second plurality of tubes being energized by said source through said resistance, and a cont-rol tube operated in accordance with the magnitude of said voltage for deenergizing each of said first plurality of tubes.

9. In an arrangement of the character described, article conveying means, means at a point of selection for deriving a voltage which varies in accordance with physical characteristics of articles -on said conveying means, a magnetizable member synchronously operated with said conveying means, a plurality of magnetizing means magnetically associated with said magnetizable member to magnetize diterent regions in the same, a lrst plurality of gaseous discharge tubes each having its anode serially connected with a corresponding one of said magnetizing means, a single condenser serially connected with each of said magnetizing means and corresponding anodes and corresponding tube cathodes to provide a discharge path for s-aid condenser, a continuous voltage source, a resistance serially connected with said source, a charging circuit for said condenser comprisin-g said resistance and said source, a second plurality of discharge tubes each effective to energize a corresponding one of said rst plurality of tubes in accordance with the magnitude of said voltage, each of said second plurality of tubes being energized through said resistance, a control tube operated in accordance with said voltage for deenergizing each of said rst plurality of tubes, a plurality of pickup means magnetically associated with said magnetizable member and each corresponding to a corresponding one of said magnetizing means, and control means coupled to said pickup means for effecting control operations on said articles remote from said point of selection.

10. In an arrangement of the character described, article conveying means, means at a point of selection for deriving voltages varying in accordance with physical characteristics of articles on said conveying means, a magnetizable member synchronously operated with said conveying means, a plurality of magnetizing means magnetically associated with said magnetizable member to magnetize selected regions in the same, a rst gaseous control tube coupled to said voltage deriving means and operated in yaccordance with said voltage, said gaseous control tube having an anode, a rst control relay with a winding, an alternating current voltage source connected to said anode through said rst control relay winding, a rst plurality of gaseous discharge tubes, each coupled to said voltage deriving means and operated differently in accordance with the magnitude of said voltage, a continuous voltage source, each of said plurality of tubes having a corresponding cont-rol relay with a winding, a resistance, means connecting said continuous voltage source to the anodes of each of said plurality of tubes through corresponding control relay windings and through said resistance to provide a common path for the ow of space current through each of said plurality of tubes, a seco-nd plurality of gaseous tubes each having an anode, .a condenser, means coupling said condenser to said continuous voltage source through said resistance to form a charging circuit for said condenser, the anodes of each of said second plurality of tubes being serially connected with a corresponding one of -said plurality of magnetizing means, said condenser being serially connected with each of said magnetizing means and corresponding anodes of said second plurality of tubes, means includin-g said irst control relay for rendering each of said second plurality of tubes inoperative, means including said corresponding control relays for rendering a corresponding one of said second plurality of tubes operative to discharge said condenser through a corresponding magnetizing means, pickup means magnetically associated with said magnetizable member with each pickup means corresponding to one of said magnetizing means, and control means coupled to said pickup means for effecting control operations on said articles remote from said point of selection.

ll. In an arrangement of the character described, a magnetizable member rotatable about an axis, va plurality of magnetizing coils each being mounted at different radial distances from said axis and magnetically associated with said member, a plurality of gaseous discharge devices each having an output electrode connected to a corresponding one of said coils, means ata point of selection for deriving an electrical voltage, the magnitude of which is representative of the conditi-on of a non-magnetizable article at such point of selection, means for conditioning one of said devices for tiring in accordance with the magnitude of said electrical voltage, means assuring a non-conductive condition of the selected device when said article is at said point of selection, the last mentioned means being automatically disabled when said article leaves said point of selection to thereby allow the selected discharge device to allow a current flow from its output electrode and through the corresponding magnetizing coil.

12. In an arrangement of the character described, a magnetizable member rotatable about an axis, a plurality `of magnetizing coils each being mounted at different radial distances from said axis and magnetically associated with said member for producing a corresponding magnetized spot on said magnetizable member, a plurality of pick-01T coils magnetically associated with said magnetizable member, article diverting means, a plurality of gaseous discharge devices each coupled to a corresponding pick-olf coil, said article diverting means comprising means controlled directly by` a ilow of space current through the corresponding discharge device, each of said pick-0E coils being eifective when a magnetizable spot moves adjacent the same to tire a corresponding one of said devices, and means automatically eiective after said spot passes the corresponding pick-cfr coil for restoring the corresponding discharge device to a non-conducting condition.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,943,278 Thompson et al. Jan. 9, 1934 2,026,330 Tauschek Dec. 31, 1935 2,114,867 Wilson Apr. 19, 1938 2,217,342 Ladrach Oct. 8, 1940 2,306,211 Geiss Dec. 22, 1942 2,312,357 Odquist Mar. 2, 1943 2,415,177 Hurley Feb. 4, 1947 2,535,353 Drake Dec. 26, 1950 2,587,686 Berry Mar. 4, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 692,655 Great Britain June 10, 1953 

